13:30 Down Royal

Friday 4 November 2022

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Irish Stallion Farms European Breeders Fund Feathard Lady Mares Novice Hurdle (Fillies' & Mares' Grade 3)

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 4m 10.1s

Champagne Problem^h³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Pat Taaffe| T: W P Mullins| BF| D

7/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. Good 1½ lengths second of 7 to She Is Electric in listed mares event at Gowran (16f, soft, 6/4) 35 days ago. Yard having good spell. Looks competitive on form.

Form: 19-112

Nikini⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul Townend| T: W P Mullins

10/3

Made it 2-2 over hurdles in 6-runner mares' event at Listowel (20f, good, 5/6) 47 days ago. Surely more to come and the mount of Paul Townend from the yard's 4 runners.

Form: 1634-11

Carrigmoorna Queen⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Brian Hayes| T: W P Mullins

12/1

Thrice-raced winner under NH rules. 6/5, won 16-runner mares maiden at Listowel (20f, good) on hurdles bow 46 days ago, kept up to work. Should progress.

Form: 2-11

Doyenna^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Kieren Buckley| T: L Fowler| OR: 107

16/1

Fair hurdler. 2 wins from 5 runs this season. 9/4, career best when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle at Fairyhouse (16f, good) 27 days ago. More needed at this level.

Form: 4-43121

Liberty Dance²³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Kennedy| T: G Elliott

8/1

Won 2 of her 3 bumpers last season and close third in a Leopardstown Grade 2 on other start. Should have a bright future over hurdles for her top stable.

Form: 131-

Magical Zoe⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: A P Heskin| T: H De Bromhead

18/1

Highly promising type. First run since leaving Barry Fitzgerald when won 12-runner maiden at Wexford (16f, good to soft, 2/1) on hurdles bow 62 days ago, plenty in hand. Open to considerable improvement.

Form: 1-1

Paidi's Passion¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Ewing| T: D M Christie| OR: 105

125/1

Lightly-raced winner under NH rules. Respectable seventh of 16 in handicap hurdle at Sligo (25.4f, soft, 11/1) 14 days ago. Significantly down in trip. Very hard to make a case for.

Form: P-21327

Rioga Choice⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Rachael Blackmore| T: H De Bromhead

16/1

Lightly-raced winner over hurdles. 2/1, career best when winning 14-runner maiden at Roscommon (16.1f, soft) 94 days ago, impressively. Stable in good form. Should improve.

Form: 43-81

Saylavee³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Mullins| T: W P Mullins| D

7/2

Promising individual. Dual bumper winner. Also successful in 16-runner maiden at Gowran (16f, soft, 6/5) on hurdles bow 35 days ago, impressively. Stable having good spell. Looks sure to go well.

Form: 24-111

The Model Kingdom³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: B J Cooper| T: N Meade

3/1

Highly promising individual. 1/6, career best when winning 13-runner maiden at Tipperary (16f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 32 days ago, shaken up to assert. Should do much better.

Form: 111-1

Non-Runners

Outback Flyer³⁵

Weight: 10-10| Age: 6

T: Peter Fahey J: K C Sexton

Forecasts

The Model Kingdom (3/1), Nikini (10/3), Saylavee (7/2), Champagne Problem (7/1), Liberty Dance (8/1), Carrigmoorna Queen (12/1), Rioga Choice (16/1), Doyenna (16/1), Magical Zoe (18/1), Outback Flyer (25/1), Paidi's Passion (125/1)

Willie Mullins saddles 4 as he bids for a fifth win in this since 2014. Paul Townend is on NIKINI who gets the nod to stretch her unbeaten hurdle record to 3, perhaps at the expense of stablemate Saylavee, who was an impressive winner on her Gowran hurdle debut. Henry de Bromhead pair Magical Zoe and Rioga Choice are other interesting contenders in a fascinating Grade 3 full of unexposed sorts.